DR Strings?

[kidblast]

I've been using Masterbuilt Premiums on my J200. I did try the strings I use all the time (Elixr Nano PB) but the masterbuilts just seem to work better on this one.

 

Here's the problem.. The place where I usually order strings (juststrings.com) do not offer Masterbuilts anymore, (They told me it's a problem with Gibson actually).

 

 

Now they do have the entire line of DR strings. I was wondering how the new Veritas or Sunbeams (or what evers) rate with you folks. I know some of you guys have spoken well of them in the past.

 

I could try another online retailer, but I want to stick with these guys @Juststrings. Been using them for decades now, the turn around time via USPS is like 2 days since I live fairly close by.

 

I've tried Martin Marquis before, and I Did not like them the went dead way too fast. same with John Pearse.. I do use D'Addario for electrics, and in the past have used their acoustic strings too, but I stopped buying them when I moved to Exlirs on my other acoustics, which the Elixrs were a good fit for.

 

I guess my next option would be to try the Nano 80/20s, vs PBs.. they might work out better than the PBs do.

[AnneS]

I like DR Rares on my maple J100. And I prefer the RPBG 12/56. I also like the D'addario PB bluegrass blend just fine.

 

On my J45, I like 80/20 Masterbilt lites or the DR Sunbeam mediums, but I've never put the Sunbeams on the long-scaled maple and never felt the need to experiment.

 

For what it's worth...

A

[kidblast]

Thx Anne!

 

 

 

I will try some DRs when I'm out of MBs. 1 set left.. available down the road at the store in town.

 

if worse comes to it, I will have to find another supplier for these. I really dig the MBs ont he SJ200.

[Joe M]

I guess my next option would be to try the Nano 80/20s, vs PBs.. they might work out better than the PBs do.

 

FWIW, I use Elixir 80/20 HD Nanos on all three of my jumbos, J185, J150 and J200. Took me a while since I fell for the hype that maple is too bright for 80/20 stings, that you need to use PB's. Tried several different brands of PB's, some were OK, some not. Figured since that most, if not all, new Gibby's come with Masterbuilt 80/20's, which I didn't like, I'd give the Nanos a try. They sound the best to me. In fact, I've got my other two Gibson's, HB Vintage and J45TV strung with the same strings. Only difference is that I put the HD Nanos on my jumbos, the other two have regular lights.

[kidblast]

interesting, thanks Joe.

 

I was using the PBs because it seemed the duration till I'd notice the shredding of the coating was longer.

 

(although that never seemed to change the sound of the strings themselves.)

 

I suppose, as I mentioned the 80/20 nano's would be worth a try. I use elixr nanos on my Taylor GS and my old 1978, Yari Dy74, and they work well for those.

[jvi]

the dadarios are cheap, allways around, and sound good,pb or bronze, I came back for the simplicity and availability and price, oh yeah price! canadas dollar is americas 50 cents allmost....

[62burst]

Ray, 'sounds like your curiosity has you wondering what else is out there as your ear has gotten used to the Elixirs, and I've been doing likewise, from John Pearse to DR's, and to a new appreciation for the Masterbuilts. Thru the course of the summer, I'd had eight sets of DR's on different guitars for some comparison recording. My experience was that they were like the Martin SP's in their short-lived tendency (but rounder sounding) - however, when they go, they really go fast. They'll turn a cinnamon hue, and get a thuddy sound. I'd recorded at 3 weeks, and for the other comparo, 4 weeks, and at that point, DR Sunbeams are done. Those guitars were played very little before those recordings. If you're coming from Elixirland, you might wonder what happened.

 

Also- remember that the Sunbeams are round core, so no clipping excess until up to string tension. And- don't be surprised if you receive a dud string in the pack. But DR is a small company based in New Jersey, and they stand behind their product. A phone call is all it took to have a replacement set sent out, and they sent along a complimentary set of the Veritas strings to try out as well. 'Looks like they are aware of the Sunbeam's short-lived nature, and are now trying a more pure hex core wire to use on the Veritas. The hex core will also be appreciated by players who install strings using the measure & clip first method that Taylor uses.

 

Always having the Elixir PB's on guitars that see hazardous duty. Now, a set of the 80/20 Nanos are here waiting to get on the AJ 12 fret for the weekend. Could be just the thing for the AJ.

[mz-s]

Try the DRs, the Martins, the D'Addarios, tons of brands out there. But if you like the Gibson's sound best I wouldn't hesitate to switch shops. The string's sound is more important than the company that shipped it to you, in my opinion.

[AnneS]

Try the DRs, the Martins, the D'Addarios, tons of brands out there. But if you like the Gibson's sound best I wouldn't hesitate to switch shops. The string's sound is more important than the company that shipped it to you, in my opinion.

True. When Just Strings informed me that they couldn't get the Masterbilts, I found them easily enough on Amazon, fyi...

[Hall]

Or, at Sweetwater.

[Jesse_Dylan]

I guess you'll have to choose whether you want to stick with your strings or stick with your supplier.

 

One thing about the DRs is that they have less tension. I wouldn't mind that normally, but lately I have been really enjoying using alternate tunings, and tuning a step or two down sometimes. It's still barely okay with PB lights, so I think less-tension lights would be a bit too floppy.

 

However, if you stick with standard tuning, it is not really an issue at all and might be a bonus.

[Fullmental Alpinist]

DRs are really good strings and low tension.

 

Another good choice is Pyramid Folk and Western. Stiffer than DRs but not so stiff as Masterbilts. Great sound. EA recommended them, although I think he might use the Pyramid Premiums (maybe he'll log in and correct me).

 

The Pyramids are a bit more $$ since they're from Germany but I really like the sound--a great fit for my 'bird. I found the .12s to be closer to the DR .13s in stiffness. The Pyramids last a long while.

 

I switched from Masterbilts to these when Gibson switched from selling the strings in cardboard box to a plasticy envelope. That's probably when D'addario began making them. I found them really manic sounding when first put on and they took a good couple of days to settle in. Definitely not the string to break and replace if you're playing a gig. But they sounded good when they broke in.

[EuroAussie]

Yes, pretty much what is mentioned below. I do loooove DR Sunbeams and have them on the Hummingbird and AJ. They are marvelous on a maple super jumbo too. They have a very similar tone to the Masterbuilts, warm and sunny, and played in from the first strum. However they last much, much longer than the Gibson strings. I do prefer the Pyramids by a small margin as they have similar tone but a big more 'bite', so on the slopes and OM /LG's's they are perfect. Also living in europe the pyramids are more cost effective.

 

But if you like the masterbuilts, try Sunbeams, you will love them and they will last you a long while.

 

 

DRs are really good strings and low tension.

 

Another good choice is Pyramid Folk and Western. Stiffer than DRs but not so stiff as Masterbilts. Great sound. EA recommended them, although I think he might use the Pyramid Premiums (maybe he'll log in and correct me).

 

The Pyramids are a bit more $$ since they're from Germany but I really like the sound--a great fit for my 'bird. I found the .12s to be closer to the DR .13s in stiffness. The Pyramids last a long while.

 

I switched from Masterbilts to these when Gibson switched from selling the strings in cardboard box to a plasticy envelope. That's probably when D'addario began making them. I found them really manic sounding when first put on and they took a good couple of days to settle in. Definitely not the string to break and replace if you're playing a gig. But they sounded good when they broke in.

[kelly campbell]

I wonder why they are not able to get the Masterbuilts? Just sounds curious

[capmaster]

When about plain strings and core wires, the required tensile strength will allow for subtle changes in alloy composition only. Furthermore, any sort of coat will make a small share of the entire string mass, in particular on plain ones, or they couldn't stand the tension of an E1st, let alone G3rd octave string. Thus the density is quite the same, and as a consequence at given gauge, scale and tuning pitch the tension will be closely the same, too.

 

However, what may change dramatically with the coat is the string's feel. I can't say that I have a significant market overview, but I never liked what D'Addario sells as high carbon-steel single plain strings for general applications, that is for acoustic and electric guitars. They feel stiffer than all the others I met including GHS Boomers, Rotosound nickel-plated steels, Fender nickel-plated steels, Gibson Brite Wires, Gibson Pure Nickel, and the Optima Chrome Wounds I play myself. Funny that the Gibson strings I mentioned obviously are made by D'Addario since several years, but they seem to use different wire and/or coat for making them. I mentioned electric guitar strings only, but as said before it's about the plain strings in common here.

 

Finally I have to say that to my feel strings softer to the touch need a shorter breaking-in period. Into the bargain, to my experience they also stay better in tune. A win-win-win situation!

[kidblast]

62burst, thanks for the informative reply, that was quite helpful.

 

Kelly, Juststrings said they cannot get their request for an order fulfilled. Gibson is pretty much ignoring inquiries to why it was taking so long, so they gave up on them and removed Gibson from the list of string manufactures they offer. This was in April, and they still don't show up on their web site.

 

Cap, I've tried quite a number of different strings too. The D'Addrio XPLs are horrible to the touch for me, I hated them. Cleartones were pretty good for acoustic sets, I used Elixr nanos since they were introduced, which feel great to my fingertips. To me acoustic strings have a much more critical impact to the action and tone to me, not to say electric sets dont as well, just acoustics are a bit more so. at least that's my opinion on the matter.

 

I will search out another supplier if I have to,... I usually buy 3 or 4 sets at a time.

[The dman]

I buy Masterbuilts from Amazon $6.99 a set at my door in two days

[j45nick]

I use DR Sunbeam mediums (actually similar in gauge to normal lights, but with heavier low E) on all my Gibson hog flat tops. They are warm and clear at the same time, it that makes sense, with a bias towards warmth over time. They last a long time. I have even left them on guitars for a year, as I enjoy the funkier sound they develop over time.

 

I have not used them on my rosewood guitars.

 

If you can't find MB Premiums, try Gibson J-200 strings. As far as I can tell, it's the same string as the MB except for the silk windings at the ball ends.

 

I get DR Sunbeams from Juststrings.com, which is my favorite online string source.

[kidblast]

I will try amazon! thanks for the tip!

 

If you can't find MB Premiums, try Gibson J-200 strings. As far as I can tell, it's the same string as the MB except for the silk windings at the ball ends.

 

yep, those are also Masterbuilts. I will see how Amazon works out.

 

thanks for all the replies so far! Appreciate the insight.

[kelly campbell]

I buy Masterbuilts from Amazon $6.99 a set at my door in two days

 

 

What about shipping costs?

[kidblast]

What about shipping costs?

 

we have prime, and these are prime eligible. so it's free.

[kidblast]

yep guys Amazon is the winner

 

6.99 and 2 day free ship..

 

this is even better than just strings, cuz I do have to pay for shipping so it's only good if ordering a bunch of strings.

[mz-s]

yep guys Amazon is the winner

 

6.99 and 2 day free ship..

 

this is even better than just strings, cuz I do have to pay for shipping so it's only good if ordering a bunch of strings.

 

Only downside to Amazon is they charge tax in many states - I order a lot of stuff from Musician's Friend if the price is the same, so I can save on tax. Their free shipping is usually 2-day for me as well, since they're in Kansas City and I'm in NC.

[bassetman]

With prime the two day is free. Well worth the price.

[kidblast]

With prime the two day is free. Well worth the price.

 

 

indeed... I may change over to these suppliers.. why pay for shipping???